Welders
 

Alright, so the last part of my diy setup that I need is exhaust. I am thinking I can probably tack weld it together and take it to a shop and have them do it right.

The thing is i don't know much at all about welding, I want to get a welder that will let me do this project, and possibly exhaust work in the future.

I want to try and get everything I need for $500 or less, but if I can't no big deal.

What do I need? Mig? tig? flux? gas?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks guys

Are you doing SS?

Prob not, but It would be nice to leave that option open for the future.

I put together an exhaust for a previous car, it's really pretty easy to work with... if you can use a glue gun, you can MIG/flux weld.

Fluxcore welders are cheaper, messier, and use more expensive wire
MIG welders are more expensive, cleaner, and use cheaper wire.

You can go from one to the other with the appropriate rollers, gun/line, and regulator.

I bought a 120V 135A Lincoln for about $400.

I also recommend a 14" metal chop saw, makes it a lot easier to get straight cuts.

You can weld SS with mild steel wire, but the welds won't be stainless :cool:

K start with fluxcore, (and if you want to move onto mig with the addition of a tank and regulator).

Look at clarke from personal experience (3 welders) they have been great and have an awesome warranty.

I have hear decent stuff of Chicago Electric welders.

Already have the chop saw...damn good tool.

What about this guy?
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94164
Or would I be better off with 230v?

I know I need helmet (auto darkening) and gloves (ok to trust harbour freight ones?). Anything else?

so does flux use wire and mig use gas?

i have the welder right below that model. its cheap, and gets the job done.

uhh... from what i've seen... it doesn't take more than 100$ for a shop to weld together an exhaust for you.... hell they chopped mine's off and rewelded for 30$ i had straight pipes and a single resonator for 90$ welding and everything

This guy?

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=6271

I usually wouldn't trust harbour freight for stuff like this, but it you guys use them then why not.

Yeah your prob right..but I want to learn anyway. Now is a good chance.

They both use wire.

A gasless MIG welder requires you to use wire which has a shielding agent impregnated into the core of the wire, much like rosin-core solder. Ie: the wire is literally hollow, and has sticky stuff (flux) inside it. When you weld, the flux vaporizes and forms a cloud which shields the work area. It also makes a horrible mess.

With a gas-type MIG welder, the wire is solid (no flux impregnation) and you use an external tank of inert gas which is funneled up a tube to the welding tip and dispensed whenever the trigger is pulled. This produces a much cleaner weld.

SOME gasless MIG welders can be converted to gas-type operation down the road by purchasing a regulator, solenoid, and tank. This is often more expensive than just buying a welder already set up to take gas.

Many of the cheapest gasless MIG welders cannot be converted. My Harbor Freight unit, for example, cannot. This is a bummer, as I'm sick and damn tired of flux-core welding.

Just realized the one I posted is 220v, guess its time to wire up an outlet in the garage.

nope, this one.

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...emnumber=94056. u havent really had any complaints on it. cant beat it for the price.

Cool, that is cheap. Looks like i'm loosing the MIG capability though. I've also heard it is important to use good wire. Where do you guys get yours?

that's cool..... :) i'm just a lazy bum so i'd rather take it to a shop or somebody to weld it for me... hahaha

i use harbor freight wore too, becuase its the cheapest. my welds look like shit, but i have NEVER had one fail, ever

You don't really need 220V. It'd be nice if you're doing heavy fab work or a lot of steady duty, but I've been known to abuse mine and haven't had an issue.

MIG is really nice, clean and simple.

HF helmet is fine, that's what I have.

I've heard that some of the HF welders use Lincoln/Miller style components (thank U china), making repair/upgrade easier.

In my experience, you never regret buying a nice tool. You regret cheaping out and suffering for it, though.

That's all that matters dude.

Couldn't agree with you more

Yeah I think I am going to buy the $270 MIG one and be done with it.

also check www.weldingdepot.com

btw, pretty much any welder that can do mild can do stainless with a gas change.

Thanks man, I'll check it out.

Is there anything else I need besides the helmet and gloves?

look in your area for a mig welder.. on craigslist.. you can find htemfor $200-300 and piping for an exhaust should cost about $50 if you get it from the right place. You don't need to take it to a shop.. you can do it yourself.. its honestly cake.

This is a much better machine in the same price range.

http://search.harborfreight.com/cpis...lder&Submit=Go

I have used both welders, and I own the welder above (but in a discontinued 180A version, mine has the same power output as above though and the same manual.) It is the same welder with some minor control board differences.

It will make nice welds with good wire and gas, and yes, it will weld a 1/4" thickness steel plate in one pass to another, but is able to weld thin wall mild steel as well.

Mark

I've got a harbor freight $100 flux-core and a $3800 Snap-On MIG (I got it for $0) both of which are 110v.

The flux-core is nice but only has high/low amp settings and even with it on low, its easy to burn through stuff. Also, fluxcore leaves a good bit of spatter and is sensitive to dirty metal. It's done 3 exhausts and 3 sets of intercooler piping as well as other misc. work and keeps on ticking. It's lasted way longer than I expected and I've never had a weld break.

The snap-on kicks ass and is waay overkill for anything I'll ever use it for. I built my manifold with it.

I'd try and find a nice used lincoln with gas hookup upgrade.

Found this locally on ebay:

http://cgi.ebay.com/Chicago-MIG-100-...QQcmdZViewItem

Does it look like it will do the job? For $50 I really don't care if it lasts only once and I have to trash it to make some nicer welds.

Probably for some light duty welds it will work, but on anything .125 wall or thicker maybe not... Now if you make box with a nice steel bottom and purge it with CO2 you could even weld stainless in it. ;)

Mark

thats the one i have. you can get them brand new for like 120 though

Anti-sputter spray, wire, the tank regulator, gas.

Btw, my uncle is a professional welder and he use to teach how to weld at an aviation academy. He told me that one time the academy bought a bunch of cheap chicago electric welders. Well, these welders were useless bc none of them feed the wire constantly, I mean the rate the wire came out of the tip was not the same all the time while they were welding. He say it was impossible to get a good nice weld.
So the moral of the story is be aware when buying cheap welders. Consider a welder an investment, a good one will last you all your life you wont regret spending a little more money.
Look at Lincoln.
I have a Schumacher 180amps 220volts welder, I bought it used for $200 with tank and regulator. It is not as good as Lincoln but its not bad either. Look at used ones

Yeah I have heard loncoln, miller, and hobart are all good. Just waiting for something to pop up on craigslist and I will go after it.

+1 I've had 2 migs, 1 was on the cheaper side (flux + ability to go to gas) and couldn't do frame rails (max was 1/8" and that was a PITA) ended up giving that one to a friend for light bodywork, 2nd is a Lincoln (same as above). I love the Lincoln - used it heavily for light to 1/4" stock and never had an issue - think heavy trailer repairs and farm work. You can get replacement parts at any National Welders. I'd try to score a used one - go MIG, flux is a bitch and gets on everything around your welding area not to mention you!